Harness



June 14, 1949. Eqr. 'ronn I 2,473,114

HARNES S Filed Feb. 20, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IINVENTOR. EDWIN 1'. Tool)Y BY ATTORN EYS June 14, 1949. E. T, TODD 2,473,114

HARN ES S Filed Feb. 20, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. EDWIN T. TODDATTORNEYS Patented June 14., 1949 HARNESS Edwin Thayer Todd,

Pontiac, Mich, assignor to the United States of America as representedby the Secretary of War Application February 20, 1946, Serial No.649,066

4 Claims. l

This invention relates to a hold down installation for supporting a gunon a vehicle. More particularly it relates to a supporting harness formounting a field howitzer on an amphibian vehicle of the type known asthe DUKW. (Truck, 2%; ton 6 x 6, amphibious.)

In combat activities, especially over water, it is essential that theguns be transported in a secure manner and yet be readily removed orloaded as desired. In accordance with my invention, I not onlyaccomplish these objects, but I also provide for firing the gun when inits carry position.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear from thefollowing description thereof, taken in connection with the drawingsappended hereto, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an amphibious vehicle with a gun intemporary carry position thereon.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the vehicle shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the end of a trail showing thesecuring means; and

Figure 4 is a partial end elevation of the Wheel supporting device.

In accordance with a preferred form of embodiment of my invention, Ihave shown an amphibious vehicle I generally known as the DUKW on whichI have provided means for mounting a gun generally indicated at I2. Thismay be a field piece such as a 105 mm. howitzer Which is to be carriedbetween shore stations or between ship and shore. While my harness isprimarily adapted for temporary transport of such a gun, due to itssize, extreme care must be used even in its temporary mounting.

A field piece of this type is generally mounted on wheels l4 and forrapid road transportation, these wheels have tires 16 of the pneumatictype. The piece also has the well known trails 13 the outer ends ofwhich are formed into spade portions 20. The piece also has thecustomary elevating wheel 22, recoil slide, sights and other mechanismcommon to this type of gun.

I have found that the amphibian vehicle of the type of the DUKW isadequate to carry this gun and some ammunition. Certain alterations mustbe made however if the gun is to be carried in fully assembled position.This is, of course, the most efiective way of carrying a piece of thistype where time is critical and opportunity to dissassemble andreassemble may not be available.

I find it desirable to first mount on the floor 30 of the cargo spacegenerally indicated at 32,

. 2 a pair of boxes 34 of generally narrow, elongated and ruggedconstruction. These boxes are suit- :ably screwed to the floor by theiroWn cover straps 34a. the covers being used as extra height supports asat 36. In preliminary use, these boxes carry the necessary cables, etc.as will hereinafter be referred to. The tires I t can then rest on thetops of the boxes 34 in such a manner that the Wheels will be verticallyclear of but laterally supported by the sides 38 of the cargo space.

I then provide grappling irons 40 to be secured over the top and rearportion of the tires, the respective parts being anchored together bythe spacer 41. The grappling irons ii! are anchored by a turnbuckle 42to the central lifting eye 43 on the vehicle.

The trails 18 are next secured to the Vehicle through the rear liftingeyes 44 and also by suitable turnbuckles 46. As shown in dotted positionin Figure 1, the trails are generally inboard and may be transverselyheld together by the cable 41. This is a suitable normal carry position.

For expected combat however, the trails may be separated and projectslightly beyond the sides of the vehicle as shown in solid lines inFigure 1 and Figure 2. In such position, they are held by secondturnbuckles 48 and also by stirrup cables 49 which can be suitablyanchored to the central lifting eyes Z2 and tightened as by turnbuckles50. In addition, supplementary cables 5! may be used to transmit some ofthe load to the forward lifting eyes 52. In this spaced position of thetrails, the piece can be fired with no objectionable reaction on thevehicle.

It will be appreciated that I have provided a simple but effectiveexpedient for carrying a field piece on an amphibian vehicle and while Ihave shown a preferred form of embodiment of my invention, I am awarethat modifications may be made thereto within the scope and spirit ofthe description herein and of the claims appended hereinafter.

What I claim is:

1. A supporting harness for the temporary transport mounting in firingposition of a Wheeled field piece having tires and trails on a vehicle,which comprises height supports securable on said vehicle to support thewheels and tires of said piece thereon in elevated position, wheelanchoring means securable to the top and rear portions of said tires andto said vehicle forwardly of the bottom of said tires, trail securingmeans for securing the ends of said trails in spread position to saidvehicle rearwardly of said trails, and additional trail securing meansfor securing the ends of said trails in spread position to said vehicleforwardly of said trails.

2. A supporting harness for the temporary transport mounting in firingposition of a. wheeled field piece having tires and trails in the cargospace of an amphibian vehicle, which comprises height supports securableon said vehicle to support the wheels 'andltires. of saidfildjpicethereon in elevated"position above the bottom of said cargo space, wheelanchoring means securable 10 to the top and rear portions of said tiresand a said vehicle forwardly of the bottom of said tires,-- to anchorsaid wheels to said vehicle, and trail" securing means forsecuring-z"saida trailwat rearward ends thereof in spread p'osition tosaid vehicle at points thereon rearwardly and forwardly of said trails,said trail securing meansinclud ing stirrup cables and turnbuckles.

3. The supporting harness of claim 2"-in which said height supportsinclude rigid shipping con- 20 tainers for said 'wheelaianchoring means'andisaid trail securingzmeans;

4; Incombinationr Withwa: wheeledvfield'ia piece ti'on to said vehicleat points thereon rearwardly and forwardly of said rearward ends.

EDWIN TI-IAYER TODD.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the filer-ofthisspatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1370,998 Nicholson J-ulydfx; 19301}829,681 Seeley .Oct. 27, 1931 l,9'l3,624= Hanlon -Sept: 11, 1934

